A national business organization that promotes clean energy jobs ranks Ohio No. 6 on a list of planned clean jobs for the second quarter of 2012. Four projects, including General Electric’s research and development center in Dayton, were mentioned in the report and eventually could create more than 700 jobs.

The Environmental Entrepreneurs Second Quarter 2012 Clean Energy Jobs Roundup report ranked states by the total number of clean energy jobs — jobs that reduce carbon emissions and do not use fossil fuel — referenced in media reports over the past three months. Ohio increased its ranking this quarter to sixth, up from 17th in the first three months of the year.

The Ohio projects include GE investing $50 million to create the GE Aviation Electrical Power Integrated Systems Research and Development Center — or EPISCenter — at the University of Dayton, which is designed to initially create 50 jobs by the end of 2013 and up to 200 by 2017.

UD researchers, GE Aviation scientists and engineers plan to work on advanced technologies, such as longer-range electric cars and smarter utility power grids for more efficient energy use.

“Construction is on schedule and has been going well with good weather,” said Jennifer Villarreal, GE Communications manager. “The internal laboratory has had some significant changes for new equipment and this has been accommodated by the construction teams.”

Also on the list is Everpower’s announcing plans to build a 54-wind turbine Buckeye Wind farm in Champaign County, which is expected to create up to 200 construction jobs and 12 full-time jobs. The project is in its final permit process, according to Dan Lagiovane, Project Communications manager for Everpower Wind Holdings, Inc.

“We are very confident that we will be constructing next year,” he said.

The wind farm will be spread across the townships of Goshen, Rush, Salem, Union and Wayne and the city of Urbana. Lagiovane said the project will benefit four school districts — West Liberty, Triad Local, Mechanicsburg Exempted Village and Urbana City Schools.

Other Ohio projects cited on the list include Norfolk Southern Corp. announcing plans for a $160 million expansion of the Bellevue rail yard, which is designed to create up to 275 new jobs, and DuPont upgrading its Circleville production facility, which is scheduled to produce 25 new jobs.

“According to the Renewable Energy Policy Project, Ohio has 2,100 companies, the fourth highest in the nation, in industries related to the manufacture of components for renewable energy systems,” said Judith Albert, executive director for Environmental Entrepreneurs, a national organization whose mission is to promote sound environmental policy to grow the economy.

“People who started with skills in automative and other manufacturing have transferred those skills to the manufacturing of renewable energy.”

A spokesperson for the Ohio Department of Development would not confirm whether these projects would create 700 new jobs for the state.

“This is a new collection of data that we have not seen before and don’t feel that it is appropriate to comment on it at this time,” said Penny Martin, ODD Communication specialist. “Ohio is a leader in manufacturing, and we want to continue this success across many industries, including clean energy. The greatest potential for job creation is a comprehensive strategy that is built on Ohio’s strengths.”

The EE report said that more than 70 companies, cities and organizations nationwide announced clean energy job projects. These jobs have to deal with public transportation, manufacturing, power generation and energy efficiency. The Environmental Entrepreneurs predict that if the projects come to fruition, more than 37,400 new jobs will be created.

Albert pointed out that some states “provide incentives to encourage development of clean energy business as a source of economic development in their states.”

“Private sector companies are investing in cleaner energy across the United States,” she said. “We think this represents a positive trend for the economy. In states like Ohio, which historically has had a strong manufacturing base that has been hard hit by the recession, clean energy represents an opportunity to create a new 21st-century manufacturing base.”

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2414 or kelli.wynn@coxinc.com.